Located in the heart of Historic Harlem Community in Manhattan, the northern border of the Sugar Hill community is 155th street, the southern border is 145th Street, the eastern border is Edgecombe Avenue and the western border touches Amsterdam Avenue.
Sugar Hill stands out as the headquarters of cultural development in the African American experience. Sitting on a high point in the heart of Manhattan, Sugar Hill looks out onto the valley of Harlem to the east giving views beyond the Harlem River. During the Harlem Renaissance this area was revered as a spot that claimed and enjoyed the "sweet" life, therefore it was given the descriptive name of Sugar Hill.
Located in Suger Hill District is the Dance Theater of Harlem, which was co-founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and the late Karel Shook. Arthur Mitchell undertook the endeavor as his personal commitment to the people of Harlem following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Now 32 years later, Dance Theatre of Harlem is widely acclaimed as a major cultural institution encompassing a world-class ballet company, an accredited school of dance, the Dance Theatre of Harlem School, and a national and international arts education and community outreach program.
